I'm a sucker for a lot of things. When ranked, lighthouses fall somewhere between elderly people holding hands and big-sky sunsets. So naturally when planning our trip to San Francisco, we catered the itinerary around Point Bonita Lighthouse's hours of operation.
The current lighthouse on Point Bonita was built in 1877, following the discovery of gold and the subsequent population boom in San Francisco in the late 1800s. "To lead the new settlers and explorers safely through the dangerous waters of the Bay entrance, a system of lighthouses were developed. Alcatraz’s light showed the way for ships directly in front of the Golden Gate and Fort Point’s lighthouse marked the southern edge of San Francisco Bay, but another lighthouse was needed north of the Golden Gate to make the entrance recognizable for ships sailing up the coast from the south. That lighthouse site became Point Bonita" (nps.gov).
The hike to the lighthouse isn't too tretrourous, other than a few steep points up-and-down hill to get to the rock that juts out into the bay. There is a well marked path from the parking lot to the lighthouse. Parking is easy to access (and free). This would make for a perfect picnic place; however, the winds off the bay are quite strong. Hold on to your Boudin baguette! Once you arrive at Point Bonita, the Park Rangers allow one person to cross the bridge at a time to get to the actual the lighthouse. Only so many people are allowed at the lighthouse at one time.
Point Bonita is part of the Golden Gate National Recreation Area, and a short drive from Muir Woods and Sausalito. I'd recommend making a day of it and seeing all of these places while you're on the north side of the Golden Gate Bridge. Plan your visit around Point Bonita Lighthouse, as it is an active lighthouse with strict hours of operation and capacity restrictions. "The U.S. Coast Guard maintains the lighthouse and the National Park Service provides access to visitors. Point Bonita Lighthouse is reached by a half- mile trail that is steep in parts. The tunnel halfway to the lighthouse is open only during visiting hours: Saturdays, Sundays & Mondays 12:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m." (nps.gov).
Directions to the Marin Headlands (nps.gov)
From the North
Take Hwy 101 southbound.
Exit at second Sausalito exit, just before the Golden Gate Bridge.
Bear right onto Alexander Avenue; proceed back under the freeway.
Follow Alexander Avenue 0.2-miles; turn left onto Bunker Road.
From the South
Take Hwy 101 northbound across the Golden Gate Bridge.
Exit Alexander Avenue; bear right.
Follow Alexander Avenue 0.2-miles; turn left onto Bunker Road.
Directions to Point Bonita
On Bunker Road, pass through one way Baker-Barry Tunnel.
Follow Bunker Road 3-miles; turn left on Field Road.
Follow Field Road 0.8-miles to Point Bonita parking lot and trailhead.
Walk the 0.5-mile trail to the lighthouse.
Planning your trip to San Francisco? Visit the San Francisco page on my blog for tips, videos and recommendations.
Happy travels!
AB
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